Movie Soundtracks, 80's Music and Target Audiences

[jsteinhauer]

We watched a rental copy of My Best Friend's Girl last night. I thought it was hilarious. More raunchy than a standard chick flick. If your chick likes this kind of humor, your good to go.

Anyway, the soundtrack was dated - Mid-80's. It got me to thinking about who they are targeting. Obviously, these are not youngsters in the movie, but they can't be targeting the 40-somethings who would have been into the music in the movie. Do you twenty- and thirty-somethings hear these songs and connect with them? Seriously, these pieces are over twenty years old. I do not recollect romantic comedies in the 1980's being set to soundtracks compiled from 1960's music.

Is music from the 1980's timeless?

[Blu As Hell]

Originally Posted by jsteinhauer

We watched a rental copy of My Best Friend's Girl last night. I thought it was hilarious. More raunchy than a standard chick flick. If your chick likes this kind of humor, your good to go.

Anyway, the soundtrack was dated - Mid-80's. It got me to thinking about who they are targeting. Obviously, these are not youngsters in the movie, but they can't be targeting the 40-somethings who would have been into the music in the movie. Do you twenty- and thirty-somethings hear these songs and connect with them? Seriously, these pieces are over twenty years old. I do not recollect romantic comedies in the 1980's being set to soundtracks compiled from 1960's music.

Is music from the 1980's timeless?

Why are you making it seem that someone in their 30's wouldn't connect with songs in the 80's. I was born in 1976 so I did the majority of my growing up in the 80's so yeah I connect with those songs. I mean 20 years is really not as long ago as you think.

[caliminius]

Originally Posted by jsteinhauer

We watched a rental copy of My Best Friend's Girl last night. I thought it was hilarious. More raunchy than a standard chick flick. If your chick likes this kind of humor, your good to go.

Anyway, the soundtrack was dated - Mid-80's. It got me to thinking about who they are targeting. Obviously, these are not youngsters in the movie, but they can't be targeting the 40-somethings who would have been into the music in the movie. Do you twenty- and thirty-somethings hear these songs and connect with them? Seriously, these pieces are over twenty years old. I do not recollect romantic comedies in the 1980's being set to soundtracks compiled from 1960's music.

Is music from the 1980's timeless?

I think you're problem is thinking that it would be people in their 40's who connect with this music. Just like Blue as Hell, I was born in 1976 and absolutely love 80's music. The real range for 80's music is probably late 20's to early 40's for the music, which probably fits the film's demographic perfectly.

And, yes, there is something timeless about much of 80's pop music. It was fun and upbeat. Not morbid and depressing or overly sexualized and raunchy like a lot of today's mainstream pop tends to be.

You might also want to realize that the movie's title is the title of an 80's song by The Cars. Given that, it shouldn't be a surprise the soundtrack is full of 80's songs.

[marks76]

Like the others i was born in 76 and when i think of music i am fond of it is almost all late 70's to early 90's with the vast majority of it being from the 80's. It was a period in my life when there were no real problems except how to hide that latest report card from my parents.

[209Mason]

It doesn't even take a child born in the 70's... I was born in 1982 and 80's music is my FAVORITE... Sure I like current music, Rock and such like Incubus, Pearl Jam, Spill Canvas, etc....

HOWEVER.... Ah-Ha, Tommy Tutone, or Big Country hits my ears and it's a full on dance-party no matter where I am. I think that is why I liked it so much... it's just FUN music. I'm the same with movies too. I think it has to do with what you remember hearing... My mom was pretty young when she had me, so she was ALWAYS listening to music when I was growing up... I guess that's what I remember and I really identify with it. Movies, Music, Cartoons... the 80's are hard to beat when it comes to just plain FUN.

[PCiAM]

Is music from the 1980's timeless?

I was born in '84 so I don't remember being familiar with the 80s music as it was current, but in retrospect, I would agree that 80's music is very timeless. I pretty much love listening to 80's music almost any time of the day. The songs were catchy and stayed in your head constantly.

[tommyboy81]

Originally Posted by 209Mason

It doesn't even take a child born in the 70's... I was born in 1982 and 80's music is my FAVORITE... Sure I like current music, Rock and such like Incubus, Pearl Jam, Spill Canvas, etc....

HOWEVER.... Ah-Ha, Tommy Tutone, or Big Country hits my ears and it's a full on dance-party no matter where I am. I think that is why I liked it so much... it's just FUN music. I'm the same with movies too. I think it has to do with what you remember hearing... My mom was pretty young when she had me, so she was ALWAYS listening to music when I was growing up... I guess that's what I remember and I really identify with it. Movies, Music, Cartoons... the 80's are hard to beat when it comes to just plain FUN.

Same here. Born in 81 and always have it on a 80's radio station. If not that I turn to I95 where they play a range of Rock. 70's to new. But don't like the new. Can't stand the new GnR Cd. Only 3 songs sound like them and the rest sound like any other group out there.

[jadedeath]

I'm 30 and I connect with most 80's music.

As that was the music that was most likely playing when I was growing up.

Also, I doubt anyone who's hovering around the 20 mark would have as much appreciation for it as us older folk.

But, YMMV.

Logan

[benzgrl]

Wow! I didn't know so many younger than me really love 80s music! That's awesome, I was born in '71 so it is the music I grew up with and love.

I never thought that some might think of 80s music as timeless, I just thought I loved it so much because it was my time period. But I have noticed that 80s music is used a lot in movies still and we're in 2009! I just went to see He's Just Not That Into You and the last song to play was The Cure's Friday I'm In Love and so many were singing along exiting the theater!

[reanimator]

As a teen in the 80’s these tunes remain near and dear to my heart. But the OP’s observation is a point well taken – even lots of early 20s college kids are still blasting Duran Duran, Flock of Seagulls, etc.

In short, yes, I think there is something very timeless about the bouncy/fun feel of 80s music that has a very universal appeal. 80’s movies too. Every 20-something I know is completely familiar with the filmography of John Hughes!

[jadedeath]

Originally Posted by benzgrl

I just went to see He's Just Not That Into You and the last song to play was The Cure's Friday I'm In Love and so many were singing along exiting the theater!

Were those people dressed all in black and have a great deal of eyeliner on?

Logan

[HKMOVIESAREBEST]

Born in '77, everything about the 80's I love, especially the music.

[Galley]

They say that the type of music you listen to when you are 20 years old is the type of music you will listen to the rest of you life. I was 20 in 1985. I still listen mostly to '80s music.

[pere]

Originally Posted by jsteinhauer

Is music from the 1980's timeless?

All the good music is timeless.

[pjasonOH]

As far as pop music top 40 type stuff,I love the 80s.....and I still enjoy a lot of the hair bands that were insanely popular when I was in high school.
Mostly what I listen to,though,is classic rock from the mid 60s to late 70s.

[P@t_Mtl]

Born in 1968 so I became a teen just as the 80's were starting.

Love the music, it was good, fun....you name it. Something funny happen to me sometime ago. We have in Montreal MuchMoreMusic, it's like a retro video channel. They show all sort of video from the last decade and 90's but also a lot from the 80's. I was watching a bunch of them once on that channel, 6 or 7 video one after the other from the 80's. I was looking at them and something was bugging me and could not figure out what it was. And then it hit me. All the girls were actualy wearing clothing! when compare to the video's of today, they were dressed up. I just could not stop laughing. It's pretty sad for today's girls that you have to undress in order for them to make a buck. What does it truly say about their talents?

[borninusa]

I lived the 80's and loved the music. Still do.
I swear I hear Def Leppard on the radio at least once a day. That says something for the era.
I remember Vince Neil of Motley Crue talking about the Grunge stuff..he hated it because it was all so depressing. The 80's were about fun....90's were about "I hate my parents and life". Well, something like that.

[joebp415]

i was born in 63,45yo now and i loved the 80's music the best,the 80's were good times in my life,i think the 80's had the best horror movies to

[Sloan78]

All 80's, all the time!!!!!!

[Galley]

If it's a day that ends in "y", then I'm probably listening to '80s music.